B.C. minister Horgan’s visit to Asia faces opposition over LNG push

British Columbia Prime minister John Horgan (Image courtesy of gov.bc.ca)

British Columbia’s prime minister John Horgan will set off for an Asian tour with an aim to expand economic ties and provide a push for the LNG Canada project.

While the Premiere’s office statement does not mention LNG talks specifically, Vancouver Sun reported premier Horgan will seek support for the Shell-led LNG Canada export facility in Kitimat, British Columbia, approximately 600 km northwest of Vancouver.

However, the decision came under fire by British Columbia’s Green Party leader Andrew Weaver who said through his social media channels that the NDP government’s stumbling stone would be the continued pursuit of LNG.

Besides the political opposition, Horgan’s trip to China, South Korea and Japan, where he is expected to meet with KoGas, Mitsubishi and PetroChina, all members of the LNG Canada consortium, has been put into focus by the B.C. arm of the environmental group Sierra Club.

In its comment on minister Horgan’s visit to Asia, Sierra Club BC notes that the LNG Canada project could hamper the province’s ambitions to reach environmental targets.

“If LNG Canada goes ahead, it alone could account for more than three-quarters of B.C.’s allowable emissions in 2050,” said Sierra Club BC’s forest and climate campaigner Jens Wieting.

According to the Pembina Institute, under current policies, LNG Canada’s emissions would total 9.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent in 2050. British Columbia’s emissions target in 2050 is 12.6 million tonnes.

Horgan, however, told Vancouver Sun that the meeting with Canada LNG project partners will focus on meeting several objectives such as creating jobs for Canadians as well as realizing climate objectives.